Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

Support for Stricter Gun Laws Increases in U.S.

Security newswire default
October 24, 2017

A new Gallup poll reveals six in 10 U.S. adults now support stricter laws covering the sale of firearms, up from 55% last year and the highest percentage since 2004.

However, the public is sharply divided over an assault weapons ban, though the 48% in favor exceeds last year's record-low 36%. Americans still widely oppose an outright ban on handguns, but more favor such a ban than in 2016.

 

Summary of Americans' Shifting Views on Guns
  2016 2017
  % %
Feel that the laws covering the sale of firearms should be made more strict 55 60
Would support a law making it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess semi-automatic guns known as assault rifles 36 48
Think there should be a law banning the possession of handguns, except by the police and other authorized persons 23 28
Gallup

The latest uptick in support for gun control, from Gallup's Crime poll conducted Oct. 5-11, comes just days after the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas, where 58 people were killed and more than 500 were injured.

Desire for Stricter Gun Laws Rises After Mass Shootings

The public's overall desire for stricter gun laws has fluctuated substantially since Gallup's first measure in 1990. That year, a record-high 78% favored stricter laws covering the sale of firearms. Gallup said a majority of Americans held that position until 2008. Support then fell to a low of 43% in 2011, when an equal number said gun laws should be kept as is.

Public opinion typically shifts in the aftermath of a traumatic national event such as a mass shooting, said Gallup. Shortly after the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012, support for stricter gun laws jumped to 58%. Sentiments in favor of stricter laws fell thereafter, only to rise to 55% in October 2015 after nine people were killed and nine were injured at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon.

This month's reading marks a five-percentage-point bump from last year among Americans favoring stricter laws (60%), while 33% think laws should be kept as they are now and 5% prefer less strict laws.

Less Tolerance for Assault Rifles Than Handguns

While a majority of Americans currently support stricter gun sale laws in general, Gallup said there is a sharp divide in opinions of controls on one specific type of weapon: semi-automatic guns known as assault rifles. These guns, which reload automatically but fire only once per trigger pull, have been used in many of the mass shootings in recent years, including Las Vegas and the June 2016 attack in Orlando, Florida -- the two deadliest shootings in U.S. history.

Assault rifles have been a matter of great debate in the U.S. for decades. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a federal assault weapons ban -- which 71% of Americans supported, according to a Gallup poll at the time. When the 10-year ban expired in 2004, support for it had fallen to 50%. In recent years, opinion has tilted against a ban, and an attempt to pass a new assault weapons ban after the Newtown shooting was defeated in 2013.

Currently, the public remains evenly divided, with 48% in favor of and 49% opposed to a law that would make it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess semi-automatic guns. However, support for such a ban is up 12 points since last year.

Public opinion on handgun possession is more clear-cut than views on assault rifles. According to Gallup, currently, 71% of Americans think there should not be a ban on the possession of handguns, while 28% think there should be.

The long-term Gallup trend for this question shows less support for a ban on handguns over time. In 1980, 51% said handgun possession should not be banned -- 20 points lower than the most recent reading. Opinion on this measure has been fairly flat over the past 15 years, but trending toward less support for a handgun ban. The latest reading, though, shows a small uptick in support for banning handguns.

Bottom Line

The frequency and magnitude of mass shootings have increased since 2000, yet support for stricter gun sale laws was higher and more consistent before then, Gallup said. As is the case with a number of other issues, Gallup has found that public opinion on gun control has become increasingly politically polarized over time. Republicans are less likely than they have been in the past to favor stricter gun laws, and the opposite is true of Democrats.

Still, in the immediate aftermath of mass shootings in recent years, the public has leaned toward more regulation of weapons, Gallup said. This is once again the case. Gallup said it remains to be seen whether this level of support will hold or, as has happened in the past, will fall away as coverage of the latest incident begins to fade.

http://news.gallup.com/poll/220595/support-stricter-gun-laws-edges.aspx?g_source=Politics&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

KEYWORDS: active shooter gun control gun laws mass shooting

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Charles Denyer
Subscribe For Free!
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Pills spilled

More than 20,000 sensitive medical records exposed

Laptop in darkness

Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report shows rise in cyberattacks

Coding on screen

Research reveals mass scanning and exploitation campaigns

White post office truck

Department of Labor Sues USPS Over Texas Whistleblower Termination

Computer with binary code hovering nearby

Cyberattacks Targeting US Increased by 136%

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

May 22, 2025

Proactive Crisis Communication

Crisis doesn't wait for the right time - it strikes when least expected. Is your team prepared to communicate clearly and effectively when it matters most?

September 29, 2025

Global Security Exchange (GSX)

 

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Security newswire default

    More Americans Favor New Gun Laws Over Stricter Enforcement

    See More
  • New Newswire Feature Image 3/8/2012

    States with Weakest Gun Laws Lead in Gun Deaths

    See More
  • New Newswire Feature Image 3/8/2012

    Hopkins Report Calls for Tighter Gun Laws, Sparks Debate

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • security culture.webp

    Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

  • Photonic-Sensing.gif

    Photonic Sensing: Principles and Applications for Safety and Security Monitoring

  • into to sec.jpg

    Introduction to Security, 10th Edition

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing